An Early Christmas Present

Hi there everyone, Happy Halloween! There's a ton of stuff happening around here today.  I'm putting the finishing touches on our Halloween decorations, working on the printables for next month, and spending some time planning office organization.  A few weeks ago I shared pictures of my home office space (I still feel giddy just thinking those words)  and then I shared some of my ideas and inspiration boards in this post.  I had a lot of fun putting those inspiration boards together, and I've noticed that they're really helping to keep me focused on my goals for the space.

Until it's done, or at the very least, until I get a desk put in there, I'm content to set up at the kitchen table during the day, and take it all down before dinner.  It's not the best solution, but it's kind of working for now.  I'm still having fun tweaking things in my work area though, and to that end, I've made a few minor changes, starting with this!

I did say minor changes.  Travis helped me move the buffet over to the other wall.  I know, not all that exciting, but you see, this past Saturday, Travis and I popped into our local Staples while we were out and about running other errands.  Him and Dad were in there when my parents were visiting and they noticed that our Staples had a great selection of desks, and some of them were very nicely priced.  Travis just wanted to get an idea of what direction I was thinking of going with my workspace, so we had some fun browsing, discussing features we liked and didn't like.  That little trip gave me a lot to think about when it comes to my desk.  Part of me still wants to hold out until Spring when the garage sales and flea markets start back up again.  Part of me wants to wait until I take the plunge and we head off to Ikea (can you believe I haven't gone yet?) Mostly I don't want to rush into making a decision that isn't going to be something I'm happy with.

After looking at the desks I wandered through some of the other aisles and Travis found me looking at my newest addition to my office!

I should probably explain huh?  You see, after looking at all the desks, and not really seeing anything that screamed "Take me Home" I went off to browse organizers and storage boxes.  As I was turning around the end of an aisle I spotted the folding tables, and wandered over to take a look.  I've been saying for some time now that I would love to get a folding table or two for barbecues, kid's parties, crafting, Christmas baking, my list could go on.  I really  like that they add an extra work surface, but when you're done you can store them away.  As I was looking at the folding tables I had the thought that one of them would be the perfect stop gap while I'm figuring out my desk.  It would give me a surface to work on for the now, and down the road, when I'm ready to commit to a proper desk, or find a desk I absolutely love, I won't feel so guilty because the investment in the table isn't that much ( $35 for a 4' x 2') and I already have alternate uses planned for it

I had just had that thought when Travis found me.  I shared my thoughts with him and he totally got where I was coming from, and to my astonishment picked up the table right then and there.  Despite my protests that I didn't mean that we should pick it up that day, he got the table anyway.  You see, while I've been content to set up on the dining room table, Travis hasn't been content watching me do it.  He found it painful to watch me pack everything up at the end of the day only to have to bring everything out again the next morning, knowing that I'd be spending at least a good half hour getting everything put back so I could get back into the flow of the day before.  It's been really bothering him that I didn't have a work space to call my own.  His reasoning warmed my heart.  I know, that after all these years I shouldn't be surprised by these little surprises and thoughtful gestures, but every single time he does something like this, my heart melts and I am reminded all over again what an incredibly lucky woman I am to be married to such a thoughtful  loving, generous man.  It really is the little things, the thoughts and intentions behind the gestures, that mean so much.  I have the Best. Husband  Ever!

So now I get to play around with the office set up, figure out the best way to use what I've got.  And I'm totally loving being able to walk away from a project and not have to pack everything up. Not only did my fabulous husband give me the gift of a surface to work on, he fed my addiction for new things to organize.  I can't wait to start putting in some new systems, and playing around with things.  For now though, I'm going to head outside and get working on the Halloween stuff.

One more peek at my "desk"

Don't forget to drop me a line and let me know if there are any printables you're wanting to see in the Holiday Planner, Personal Planner, or for the Home Management Binder!

What gestures warm you heart?  Do you ever find yourself feeling incredibly grateful for the simple things?  Ever made the choice to go with a temporary set up while waiting for the real thing?

Growing an Office

This was supposed to be yesterday's post, but I ran into some troubles.  Really, the first clue that all was not going to go smoothly should have been the thought "I'll just quickly whip this up in Gimp!"  Ha!  First, I don't know Gimp well enough to quickly do the simplest things in it, and I was trying to create a collage of all my ideas.  Not a simple feat.  Then I had to look up tutorials to figure out how to do what I wanted.  (Note to self:  if I need to seek out a tutorial it is NOT going to be the quick and easy project I thought it would be.)  And finally, my stubborn streak kicked in and I was determined to do it in Gimp. The end result... I gave in, admitted defeat, fired up Inkscape, and was amazed at how quickly it all came together.  (I plan to remember this for next time!)  Now, FINALLY, here is the post I was planning on posting yesterday.

So, here we go.  As I mentioned on Wednesday, my office space is one of the spaces in our new home that I'm most excited about.  And to be completely honest, I'm a little scared to just jump in and set it up.  Aside from not having enough furniture for in there yet, there's also this burning desire to take my time, to make each addition to the space something I love, something that blends beautiful with functional.  I want to make it a place I will love for a long time.  I'm willing to spend some time waiting for it to come together, but I don't want to just go forward with no forethought or planning.  I have a board on Pinterest (here) for ideas, things that catch my eye, things that I think I will like.  I pulled some of those images together and thought I would share them with you.

First things first, you gotta have a place to start.  My place was with Liam's artwork, that white and blue combo made me smile, (and not just because he made it, but that really is the best part!) and when I went browsing through my Pinterest boards and noticed how much I seem to be drawn to blues and whites in office spaces, I was sold.  Without further ado, here's my inspiration board!

So, obviously idea number one is Liam's artwork.  The other three I already had pinned on Pinterest, looooong before we moved into our new home.

Number 2, I found here.  I have tried and tried to find the original source for this photo, but haven't found it yet.  If you know where it originated, please let me know, I would love to give proper credit to the creator of this beautiful space.  What I really liked in this one, was how they used a variety of different blues with pops of other colours to add personality.  It's a cohesive look with lots of character.

Number 3, I found here.  It's a craft room designed by Sarah Richardson for Sarah's House Season 4.  While I love the whole room, I chose this one for the use of wall space.  It's pretty, but still full of function.  And I really like the wall colour.

Number 4, I found here.  Again, loving the blues, here with the green, but what I really liked was the nesting desk.  I'm toying with some ideas for DIYing something similar.

It's one thing to look at pretty pictures and day dream about the possibilities, but there is an area that requires just as much (if not more) thought and planning.  How to store and organize all the supplies that fill an office space.  Below are some of my ideas for how to organize the space.

Stuff like this always makes me smile.  There are so many beautiful, useful pieces out there, I had to rein myself in and really think about the space I have and how best I can utilize it.

Number 1:  GODMORGAN organizers from Ikea.  These would be perfect to organize smaller items in a drawer.

Number 2: LACK wall shelf.  I'm thinking 2 of them above the desk would be a great use of the wall space. Using two would allow me to store more items, but still keep it feeling uncluttered.  These ones are two long for where the desk is going.  The space is 71" so there is going to have to be some DIY solutions involved, but I'm up for that.

Number 3: BYGEL cart:  I'm toying with the idea of using this to hold the printer, printer supplies and extra paper.

Number 4: Desk Caddy from See Jane Work

Number 5: Folders from See Jane Work

Number 6: Mail Sorter by Martha Stewart, found at Staples.

Number 7: SPONTON magazine rack.  Again, trying to make use of the wall space.

Number 8: BYGEL containers.  More using the wall space!

Number 9: Translucent Clipboard from Staples.  Though I may just go for the old wooden ones and dress them up with paper or fabric. There are too many uses to name!

Number 10: GODMORGON storage box with compartments  I'm thinking this would be fabulous inside a cupboard, being see through, it would be easy to see what is inside it.

I really want to put my own spin on this space. What better way than taking a plain storage box or magazine file and making it your own.

Number 1 is the inspiration picture from BHG.  Simply cover magazine files in wallpaper to add your own spin.  I'm not sure what sources we have here, locally, for wall paper, but I stumbled across these three on the HomeDepot site (go figure)   Find them here (2), here (3), and here (4).  The magazine files I found here (Ikea)  and my favourite part, the label holder!  I found those on the Lee Valley Website.  I'm think either C or D would look great!  Obviously, this wouldn't be the cheapest of projects, but I think it could be a great way to make an impact.

And there you have the general plan.  I collected ideas to inspire me, formed a plan to add storage, make use of wall space, create homes for supplies, and have some fun dressing up plain items.  Ahh, speaking of dressing up, it really wouldn't be complete without some finishing touches right?  Right!  This part was my favourite, and though I know it will be a long while before I get to this point, I couldn't help but have some fun daydreaming while doing some online window shopping at one of my all time favourite place: Indigo.ca

Fun stuff, the fluff, the items that will move the office space in a direction more towards personal retreat.  And I love each and everyone of these items.

Number 1:  Small Classic Glass Hurricane, to add some sparkle, and bring in a little warmth and some yummy aromas.

Number 2:  Wesley Alarm Clock, because I'm constantly losing track of time, and it just looks perfect.

Number 3: Universal Flat Speakers in Silver.  For those days when a little music is in order.  And they're pretty!

Number 4: Semikolon Document Box.  I was thinking for keepsakes, but it would work great for documents too.

Number 5:  Cable Knit Reading Shawl in Feather Grey.  Love the color, and for this bookworm it would be a perfect addition on a chilly afternoon.

Number 6:  Plush Throw in Steel Grey.  For those chilly days when a little bit of extra cozy is called for.

Numbers 7 and 8:  Agean Mugs in Cobalt and Aqua.  Couldn't decide which I liked best for a warm drink, they both made me smile.

Number 9:  Squirrel Notebook.  (Does that need an explanation?)

Number 10:  Book Box. Love this too!  (Okay, okay, okay, I LOVE all of them) I thought this would be perfect for holding items that aren't needed often.  It's a pretty place to keep them, that's for sure.

I had a lot of fun day dreaming and plotting and planning.  Now that I have some ideas and visuals I'm eager to get started moving ahead with pulling this space together.  There are a few items I didn't include, because I'm still searching for ideas.  They are:

• Window Treatments
• Area Rug
• Desk Chair
• Under Desk Storage

You may also have noted that this has all been office focused, even though the room is for office work and crafting.  I have a plan for the crafting area too, but I know that for me, the office side of it is where I'm going to be spending the most time, and it's also where clutter will be more likely to collect.  Putting a plan in place ahead of time will save me time and grief down the road.

What about you?  Are you dreaming up a new space for yourself or a loved one?  Do you have a favourite go to store for various items?  

**Just a side note.  There are items listed and linked to from companies that have in no way, shape or form compensated me for this.  No affiliate links, no perks, no nothings.  I just chose stores that a) I know are in my area,  b) that have access to an online store, c) had items I was looking for, or d)any combination of the above. All opinions expressed belong solely to me, myself and I!  **

I'm linking up at:

Thoughts on the Move and Reviewing the Printables

The move was crazy!  Crazy exciting, crazy stressful, crazy planned... and now that it's over it is slowly becoming a distant memory, and before it completely dulls and loses its hold on me I wanted to share what worked, and what didn't work.

As you probably already know, I made up a bunch of printables to help keep us organized through this move, and I'm happy to report that, for the most part, they worked just like I hoped they would.  My original plan had been to put them all into a binder with neat, orderly sections ... yeah that one didn't happen.  I ended up putting most of them at the front of my HMB.  Despite not having a home all their own, they worked so beautifully for me, that I wanted to share my thoughts on them with you.

First up, the packing kit I put together I cannot say enough how happy I was with this.  

At first I thought I was just being a little on the OCD side of trying to organize our packing, but it really helped to make things that much easier.  (the post on that is here, if you want to check it out)  A quick summary of what was in it:

• Clipboard:  for holding labels once they're made, and the packing list
• Packing List:  because, this time, I'm determined to have a good idea of where everything is
• Pen: 
• Permanent Markers:  for the labels and/or writing on the box
• Packing Tape:
• News Paper:  for padding
• Plastic Bags:  I use them to cover dishes and breakables before wrapping in newspaper.  Makes it soooo much nicer when unpacking!

It made packing so easy, I could move from room to room, and I had just what I needed with me.  No hunting for anything.  The only thing I didn't end up using was labels.  I ended up just writing on the boxes.  

QUICK TIP:  Label to top right corner on all sides of the box, including the top.  This way, no matter how it is stacked, you can always see what is in it!  Thanks so much for that tip Dad!  It really saves the day!!!!

Next up, was the only real failure of the bunch, the Project List! 

 (find post here)  It was a great idea when I was organizing the house, and I've used it in the new house already for projects I want to tackle.  But when it came to the move itself, it didn't help at all.  

Then I had the Change of Address form.  

This was great, I didn't have to try to remember what was being cancelled, what was being transferred and so on.  And, it's a good thing I had this, because when we were up north at the old house, I looked at it and realized I hadn't called the utility companies to hook up the new house!  Eeek!  Thanks to the form, I had all the information I needed to get it done.  Whew!

QUICK TIP:  If you're thinking about moving, it's a good idea to double check cancellation and transfer policies for all the companies you deal with.  Some might require up to 30 days or more notice.  It's always a good thing to check that out.  Also, if you had to pay a deposit, find out how you go about getting that back.

Move-In Day Checklist!  What can I say about this little baby?

It helped!  Alot! (see post here) We had brought a fair amount of stuff with us to my parents, and thanks to them (I will never be able to thank them enough for their love, support, and for how much they helped us.  I am truly blessed with the best parents in the whole universe!!!) we were able to leave much of it with them when we headed back up north to do the final pack and move.  This little checklist helped me make sure I packed only what we needed to bring.  It also helped with the final packing, and unloading.  I was able to have what I needed at my finger tips!

And finally, we have come to the STAR of the show!  My Packing List! 

I'm going to be super honest here.  When I made this one up, I was thinking in my head, "This is going to be a waste of time for me, but maybe, someone out there will get use from it."  Ha!  The packing list was, by far, the best printable of the bunch. (see post here)  I kept a detailed list of what got packed where, or in what.  I numbered the boxes from each room as I packed, so the higher the number, the greater priority it was to us.  (with the exception of the summer shoes, they didn't get listed on this, an oversight on my part!)  It came to the rescue more than once.  Especially when the inevitable "Do you know where this is?" happened when got back up north, or the "Did you already pack that?"  There were a few times when we needed an item I had already packed, and I was able to quickly find it on my list, we were able to retrieve said items with relative ease, and put them back with no problems. When it came to unpacking, oh my, it was so nice to have an idea of where everything was.  And it was soooo handy to know, just by looking at the list, what boxes could wait to be unpacked, and what ones we needed right away.  Because of this handy dandy little printable, I was able to whip up a simple lunch on unloading day, and not have to resort to paper plates!  LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  I will use it over and over, and not just for moving.  I plan to use this to help keep track of what is stored in the garage, in the garden shed, and under the stairs, if we ever decide to use the crawl space, I'll use it for that too.  If you have a storage unit, something like this would be perfect for keeping track of what you have it in.

And there you have it!   My review of the printables I made up.  All in all, I'm quite happy that I took the time, not just to make them, but to use them.  I hope that some of you find them helpful too, after all, that's a big part of the reason I share them here.  Right now they're scattered through the blog in various posts, and I was thinking that maybe they need a page all of their own, what do you think?  Would it be easier for you if the printables were all in one spot?  Leave me a comment and let me know.  In the mean time, if you would like the full "moving" package, (all of the printables you see in this post)  leave me a comment, (make sure your email is either linked to your comment, or in your comment) or send me a note to:  scatteredsquirrelblog@gmail.com  and I'll send you a copy of all them!  

I hope all of you are having a wonderful Friday!  Have a safe and happy weekend, and I'll hope to see you here on Monday when I'm going to be sharing a new free printable with you!

New Spaces, New Challenges

Our New Home

Welcome to our new home!  Isn't she pretty?  As you can tell, I haven't really had a chance to jump in and decorate the front porch type area yet, we just put out a couple of chairs for now.  My focus has been more on the inside rather than out.

I have officially reached the unpacking phase where I am sick of unpacking.  It's not really unpacking anymore, it's more "finding a home for the last of the odds and ends".  I say odds and ends, but most of the items left to find homes for are items that are needed and useful, and frequently called upon.  Mostly I just need to get motivated, find a place to put them and call round one of organizing this place done!  What better way to get my butt in gear and find that motivation than to share it with you fine folks! (the house, not my butt!)

Our New Front Door .  No wreath yet, but I'm kind of liking the sunflowers.

Not much to really share today, just the entry and linen closet, and perhaps the world's most boring before and after pics.  (no, seriously, they are boring!)  But why take my word for it?  Come on in and see for yourself....

This is what you're greeted with when you first walk in.  That little table is actually our old baker's rack, I just asked Travis to remove the upper shelves.  It's working ok in here for now, but I have plans to change it out down the road.  

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Just a closer look at the decorations.  The flowers and leaf garland are from my wedding, the little basket is from around the house.  The book is life's contribution.  Time will tell how this set up will work.

This is one of the things that I really love about our new home . . . the stairs!  Not just because two levels means more room, but the stairs themselves are open and bright, and I just really like them.  lol  That closet you see there?  That's the linen closet!  Remember the one we left behind at our place?  (Here)  It was more like a cupboard.  The extra space is really nice, and it is going to take a little thinking and using before I figure out how best to organize it and keep it organized.  

When we first moved it, I just quickly put stuff in there, to get it put away and out of the way.   Over the last few weeks I've noticed that it is really easy for me to just sort of toss things in, and this is what it was looking like.

Kinda Empty, Kinda Messy

There is no rhyme or reason to how things were put away.  I think I was trying for a system but I'm not quite sure.  As you can see there is LOTS of space, and it helps that it was linen laundry day, so it's more empty than normal, ha ha ha.  Are you ready for the after?  This project literally took me ten minutes.  Making up my wish list took longer than the actual organizing did.  

Nice and neat once again!  It really didn't take much.  Refolding a few things, grouping like items with like, you know the drill.  And wasn't I right about the boring before and afters?   Boring or not, it felt good to get it sorted out.

I've got things loosely organized for now.  Top shelf is sheets, pillow cases, mattress pads, and a few things like vacuum bags, frilly curtains that belong to the house, but totally could not stay hanging up in the "man cave".  

Next shelf, is towels.  Again I have them loosely organized.  The boys' towels on the right, ours and guest towels on the left, and hand towels and face cloths in the middle.  The shelf underneath has no real purpose yet, though part of it could be used for extra bathroom supplies down the road.

Finally, spare blankets!  It's really nice to be able to store everything together, I plan on using part of this shelf for guest items, like sheets, blankets etc... Now that we have the room, not just for linen's for the guest room, but room for guests, I can't wait to start putting together stuff to help make guests feel at home.

Though I am thrilled with the extra space in our new home, I'm realizing that more space doesn't really make organizing any easier, it just presents different challenges that need to be overcome.  Willy nilly stocking of the linen closet is just one example.  And I now realize that having systems in place are just as important in larger homes as they are in smaller ones.  To help me keep focused on staying organized, I made up a wishlist for items/ideas for the linen closet, so that over time I can slowly get it set up and prettied up.  They are, in no particular order:

• Clear bins/containers for smaller bathroom extras
• Labels, labels and more labels
• Shelf dividers to help keep folded items contained.  
• Pretty baskets to hold items for guests
• Small cubbies or wine rack for hand towels and face clothes.
• Cleaning caddy for upstairs cleaning  (more on that in a different post)
• Hooks or other wall mountable solution for holding a broom/dust mop

I can't wait to slowly start making this new home more suited to our needs.  Being renters presents nice challenge of working with what we have and getting creative and thinking outside the box when it comes to decor choices or organizational solutions.  

And that concludes the tour of the entry way and linen closets.  I know it's not much of a sneak peak, but I'm hoping to add more and more pics up as I finish up spaces.  Has anyone else tackled a small project lately?  Or a large one?  Any tips for not accidentally creating drop zones in our new home?